Loose leaf binder

ABSTRACT

A looseleaf binder having front and rear covers slidably connected so that the covers may undergo limited movement relative to each other to facilitate access to the sheets confined therebetween without releasing said sheets, said covers having angular overlapping back members carrying mounting means for said sheets, and confining means comprising a channel at least at one end of one of the back members, means on one of said members slidable in the channel, a flexible detachable or hinged latch securing said back members to each other without interfering with relative movement of said covers; and means preventing endwise displacement of the slidable means from the channel.

[76] Inventor:

States atent 91 Unite Fenston [54] LOOSE LEAF BINDER William M. Fenston,936 Fairview St., Shreveport, La. 71 104 [22] Filed: June 5, 1970 [2i]Appl. No.: 43,909

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No.747,765, July 12,

1968, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. ..402/56, 402/74, 402/47,

[51] Int. Cl. ..B42f 3/00 [58] Field of Search ..402/56, 54

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 758,292 4/1904 Ayres..402/56 2,472,969 6/1949 Guinane ..402/54 X Primary ExaminerJeromeSchnall Attorney-Schley and Schley [57] ABSTRACT A looseleaf binderhaving front and rear covers slidably connected so that the covers mayundergo limited movement relative to each other to facilitate access tothe sheets confined therebetween without releasing said sheets, saidcovers having angular overlapping back members carrying mounting meansfor said sheets, and confining means comprising a channel at least atone end of one of the back members, means on one of said membersslidable in the channel, a flexible detachable or hinged latch securingsaid back members to each other without interfering with relativemovement of said covers; and means preventing endwise displacement ofthe slidable means from the channel.

4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENIEU 3.734.684

sum 1 BF 2 mvmox 4 William M. Fension BY fl k A'ITORNEYS PATEmww-xzzlmINVENTOR WILLIAM M. FENSTQN ATTORNEY LOOSE LEAF BINDER This applicationis a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 747,765,filed July I2, 1968, now abandoned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a novel loose leafbinder having posts extending between its front and rear covers andmeans loosely connecting the covers to permit limited relative movementof said covers whereby the sheets confined on the posts may be separatedand/or spread apart to a greater extent. Overlapping back members,hinged to the covers, are detachably and slidably connected to eachother by one or more angular latches to prevent accidental separation ofthe back members without interfacing with limited relative movementthereof, the latches being hinged or otherwise removably fastenedthereto for slidably confining an extension on each of the other backmembers. A preferred embodiment of the latch having an elongate flange,a flange of relatively short length projecting transversely from one endof the elongate flange and a keeper on the shorter flange in overlyingspaced relation to said elongate flange for securing the latch in closedposition by engaging beneath the back member upon which said latch ismounted.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed together with other features of said invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspectiveview of a portion of a loose leaf binder constructed in accordance withthe invention,

FIG. 2 is a broken, plan view of the back portion of the binder in anexpanded position,

FIG. 3 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 ofFIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFIG. 2',

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the latch for detachably connecting theoverlapping back members of the binder,

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of a preferredembodiment of the invention in unlocked inoperative position,

FIG. 7 is a view, similar to FIG. 6, showing the preferred binder inlocked operative position with its covers detachably connected,

FIG. 8 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view showing the coaction ofone of the latches with the back members of the binder covers,

FIG. 9 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view showing this binder inexpanded position, and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view ofa portion of the latch.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT In the drawing, the numeral 1 designates aloose leaf binder having front and rear covers 2 and 3 of the type whichincludes main plates or sections 4 and 5 and relatively narrow or oblongplates or sections 6 and 7 having their inner or upper longitudinalmargins hinged to the inner margins of the main sections at 8 and 9. Theopposite margins of the plates 6 and 7 are connected in right angularrelationship to the inner margins or oblong back members of flaps l0 and11 which are adapted to overlap and form a back for the binder 1.

The front plate 6 is of slightly greater width than the rear plate 7 tocompensate for this overlapping relationship and permit the back flap 10to be disposed externally of the back flap 11 as shown most clearly inFIGS. 3 and.4 It is noted that each of the covers 2 and 3, including itshinges, are of one-piece construction and are adapted to be formed ofplastic or other suitable material capable of being deformed and/ormolded to the desired configuration.

Two or more spaced pins or fingers l2 and 13 project laterally inwardfrom the inner or upper longitudinal marginal portions of the plates 6and 7 for overlapping engagement. The front pins 12 have flattenedundersides 14 and the rear pins 13 have flattened topsides 15 wherebysaid pins are semicylindrical and coact to provide cylindrical posts forconfining leaves, pages or sheets, shown in broken lines 16 in FIGS. 24,between the front and rear covers of the binder. These pins may beformed of any suitable material, such as metal or plastic.

Substantially coextensive, transverse channels 17 and 18 are formedintegrally on the ends of the back flap 10 of the front cover 2 and areapproximately semicircular in cross-section (FIG. 3) with their flatouter portions or top flanges 19 and 20 directed inwardly in overlying,parallel spaced relation to the inner face of said back flap. Foraccommodating a coacting latch or fastening element 21, the entire upperchannel 17 is disposed outwardly of the upper end of the front cover andhas its flat inner portion or bottom flange 22 projecting from the backflap as a planar extension thereof. Also, the upper channel is of alength less than the width of the back flap l0 and has its front end 23spaced from the front plate 6, while the length of the lower channel 19may be approximately equal to said flap width and the latter channel mayproject only a slight distance beyond the lower end of said flap.

A rectangular planar extension 24, in the form of a rectangular ear orlug, projects from the upper end of the back flap 11 at its outerlongitudinal margin for slidable engagement in the channel 17 when thelower end of said flap is engaged to the channel 18 as shown in FIG. 2.Due to the telescoping connection, the front and rear covers 2 and 3 aremoveable toward and away from each other to vary the spacingtherebetween and facilitate access to the pages or sheets 16. As shownin FIG. 4, the space between the expanded covers may be sufficient topermit a page or sheet to lay approximately flat.

The latch or fastening element 21 is in the form of a clip (FIG. 5)which is semicylindrical and has a flat upper portion or top flange 25and a flat lower portion or bottom flange 26 connected by an arcuate web27 so as to be complementary to the channel 17 and its flanges l9 and22. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the latch is adapted to be frictionallyengaged over the channel to prevent accidental separation of the frontand back covers of the binder 1 and has an end flange or wall 28upstanding from its bottom flange 26 for engaging the front end 23 ofsaid channel. A similar flange or wall 29 upstands from the opposite endof the bottom flange from its upper margin in spaced parallel relationto said bottom flange as well as the top flange 25. If desired, the endflanges 28 and 29 may be integral with the arcuate web 27 as well as thebottom flange 26 of the latch.

A coextensive, semicylindrical head or lip 31 may be formed on theunderside of the outer longitudinal margin of the top flange f the latch21 for engaging over the outer margin of the top flange 19 of thechannel 17. Manifestly, any suitable flexible material, such as plasticor metal, may be utilized in forming the latch so long as its top flangewill flex inwardly and outwardly upon engagement and disengagement ofsaid latch with the channel. It is readily apparent that the end flangesof the latch 21 prevent endwise displacement thereof from the channel 17and that said flanges coact with the extension 24 of the back flap 11 toprevent separation of the front and back covers 2 and 3 and theirrespective back flaps without interfering with limited sliding movementof said flaps relative to each other. Also, the lug 30 of the end flange29 provides a positive catch for preventing displacement of theextension 24 from the channel.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 6.l0, the most desirable loose leaf binderconstruction, is shown at 40 and includes front and rear covers 41 and42, main plates or sections 43 and 44 and relatively narrow oblongplates or sections 46 and 47, respectively, having their inner or upperlongitudinal margins hinged at 48 and 49 to the inner margins of themain sections. The opposite margins of the plates 46 and 47 areconnected in right-angular relationship to the inner margins of a pairof overlapping oblong back members or flaps 50 and 51, and one of theplates, such as the plate 46, is of slightly greater width than theother plate 47 to compensate for this overlapping relationship andpermit the back flap 50 to be disposed externally of the back flap 51which may be of the same or different width. Each of the covers 41 and42, including its hinges 48 and 49, may be of one-piece construction andare adapted to be formed of plastic or other suitable material capableof being deformed andlor molded to the desired configuration.

Two or more spaced pins or fingers 52 and 53 project laterally inwardfrom the inner or upper longitudinal portions of the front and rearplates and for overlapping engagement. If desired, the undersides of thepins 52 and the topsides of the pins 53 may be flattened whereby saIdpins are semicylindrical and coact to provide cylindrical posts forconfining leaves, pages or sheets between the front and rear covers ofthe binder 40. Also, one or more coacting spaced ribs and grooves 54 and55 may extend transversely of the back flaps to reinforce and guide therelative movement thereof. For detachably connecting the overlappingflaps 50 and 51 of the front and rear covers 42 and 43, an angularsubstantially coextensive latch or fastener 56 extends transversely ofand is hinged or otherwise pivotally attached, as shown at 57, at leastto one end of one of said back flaps or at both ends thereof. The latchor fastener 56 may be in the nature of a clip having flat flanges 58 and59, which may be normal to each other, the latter or longer flangeextending transversely of the back flap 50 and the other flange being ofrelatively short length.

A coextensive hook or keeper 60 projects inwardly from the outer end ofthe shorter flange 59 in spaced, overlying substantially parallelrelation to the longer flange 58 which has one of its longitudinalmargins connected to the adjacent end of the back flap by the flexiblehinge 57. The keeper 60 has a flat face 61 for engaging the outersurface of the flap 50 when the latch 56 is swung inwardly to its closedposition (FIGS. 7 and 8) to prevent accidental opening of said latch,inward movement of said latch being facilitated by an inclined surface62 on the keeper opposite its flat face 61 which is adapted to ride overthe margin of the back flap.

As illustrated, it is desirable to provide a planar extension or flange63 on the flap 50 to minimize interference of the latch with thecontents of the binder thereby disposing said latch outwardly thereof,however, this is not essential to the invention. Also, a rectangularplanar extension 64, in the form of an ear or lug, projects from thecontiguous end of the back flap 51 at its outer longitudinal margin forslidable continement by the latch 56 to permit telescoping thereof,whereby the covers 42 and 43 are moveable toward and away from eachother to vary the spacing therebetween and facilitate access to thebinder contents.

Due to the flexibility of the hinge 57, the latch is movable between itsopen position (FIG. 6) and its closed position (FIGS. 7 and 8) overlyingthe flange 63 of the flap 50 whereby the flanges 58 and 63 coact toprovide a channel for confining the back flap 61. If desired, a flangemay be provided on the cover plate 46 contiguous the flap extension orflange 63 for coaction with the latch 56 and supporting engagement withflange 58, when said latch is swung to its overlapping closed position,so as to space said flange from the ear or lug 64 and minimizefrictional resistance to relative movement of the covers.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof andvarious changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in thedetail of the illustrated construction, may be made, within the scope ofthe appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A loose leaf binder including front and rear covers, each having ahinged section at one end thereof, each section having an inner hingededge and an opposite outer edge coacting post means extendingtransversely between saId hinged sections of the covers in overlappingrelationship, complementary back members extending transversely of andconnected to said outer edges of said covers in overlapping relation toeach other,

means at the ends of one of the back members for slidably confining theends of the other back member and permitting transverse movement of saidmembers relative to each other to vary the distance between said hingedsections,

the slidable confining means comprising inwardly facing narrow channelmeans at least at one end of and extending transversely of one of saidback members and having an outer flange connected to and forming anextension of said one end of said member and an inner flange hinged tothe outer flange for movement between an open position and anoverlapping closed position in which the outer flange and inner flangeare in closely spaced parallel relation to define a narrow channel, anextension at least at one end of the slidably confined back memberprojecting into the channel, latch means including a flange integralwith and at one end of said inner flange and adapted to extend acrossone end of said narrow channel in said forming position.

3. A loose leaf binder as defined in claim 1 wherein the slidableconfining means has at least a major portion thereof disposed outwardlyof the end margin of the back member upon which it is mounted so as tominimize interference with the contents of the binder and relativemovement thereof.

4. A loose leaf binder as defined in claim 1 wherein the means forreleasably securing said inner flange in channel forming positioncomprises an angular latch adapted to engage said outer flange.

1. A loose leaf binder including front and rear covers, each having ahinged section at one end thereof, each section having an inner hingededge and an opposite outer edge coacting post means extendingtransversely between saId hinged sections of the covers in overlappingrelationship, complementary back members extending transversely of andconnected to said outer edges of said covers in overlapping relation toeach other, means at the ends of one of the back members for slidablyconfining the ends of the other back member and permitting transversemovement of said members relative to each other to vary the distancebetween said hinged sections, the slidable confining means comprisinginwardly facing narrow channel means at least at one end of andextending transversely of one of said back members and having an outerflange connected to and forming an extension of said one end of saidmember and an inner flange hinged to the outer flange for movementbetween an open position and an overlapping closed position in which theouter flange and inner flange are in closely spaced parallel relation todefine a narrow channel, an extension at least at one end of theslidably confined back member projecting into the channel, latch meansincluding a flange integral with and at one end of said inner flange andadapted to extend across one end of said narrow channel in said closedposition of said inner and outer flanges for preventing disengagement ofthe extension from said channel means and separation of said backmembers without interfering with limited relative movement thereof, saidlatch means having means for engaging said outer flange for releasablysecuring the hinged flange in parallel relation to the outer flange insaid closed position.
 2. A loose leaf binder as defined in claim 1wherein at least a portion of said channel means is formed of a materialsufficiently flexible to facilitate movement of said inner flange intoand out of channel forming position.
 3. A loose leaf binder as definedin claim 1 wherein the slidable confining means has at least a majorportion thereof disposed outwardly of the end margin of the back memberupon which it is mounted so as to minimize interference with thecontents of the binder and relative movement thereof.
 4. A loose leafbinder as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for releasably securingsaid inner flange in channel forming position comprises an angular latchadapted to engage said outer flange.